My friends at The Gleaner have told me that since they published the list of eligible bachelors last week, women have been calling and sending email requests to meet one or more of the fine set of men who made the list. The women, I was told, are of all ages and from all over the island.

So, my question is, why have women become so desperate in their search for good men? Where are the good men and why is it so difficult to make the connection? I did some homework and my sister- friends gave me a list of possible reasons for the chronic man shortage being felt by many among our ranks. It is as follows:

1. Educational imbalance: Most of the women who need good men are far superior to them in educational achievement and the men just cannot deal with them.

2. Licky-licky: Some women declare their hands too quickly by heading straight for the material things with high demands and that turns off many men.

3. Clothes-pin syndrome: Old-time people say: Some women are so easy, as you squeeze their heads, their legs fly open. I agree, some of you give up the sugar jar much too quickly, leaving the men very little to chase!

4. Male opportunists: Too many men meet good, progressive women and expect a meal ticket for life. That turns women off. Just because she makes more money than you does not make her your private little cash register!

5. Settling for mediocrity: Many women act out of desperation by settling for the wrong men, only to find out their mistakes, and before long, have to push the relationship 'eject' button or reach for the parachute.

6. Biological clock: Many women listen their biological clocks rather than the voice of reason and try to hold a man by getting pregnant, only to find out far too soon that he's just another sperm donor.

7. Mama's boy: Don't try to be his mommy; he already has one.

8. Homo in he-man's clothing: You have seen the signs, heard the loud rumours, seen the hidden moves he thinks you've missed, yet you think you will be the one to change him. So you have the showpiece wedding, only to find a third party in your marriage - 'Jim'!

9. Porn lover: If, by your third date, he wants you to pose naked so he can just take a little photo to keep on his phone, run for your life.

10. Begging credit: Nothing brings out the 'Bolt' in a prospective partner faster than constant requests for 'credit'. If you have to beg him to pay the bill to talk to you, it means you cannot afford to speak so much on the phone. Get a life.

And on the same subject: don't search each other's phones for numbers, don't call home if the person lives with someone else and don't answer their phone without permission.